Steadfast Love

I am a whore, I do confess. (Listen.)

Hosea is a beautiful book. In the first chapter, it goes through God's calling of Hosea to "take a wife of whoredom" and details the children that she has. What I didn't know was this: Jezreel, Gomer's first son, is Hosea's. "She bore him a son." It would then be assumed that the next two children, oh-so-lovingly named No Mercy and Not My People, were also the offspring of Hosea and Gomer. BUT the verses that introduce these children simply say, "she bore a daughter" and "she bore a son." These likely were not Hosea's children. 

Ouch.

Even after marrying Hosea, Gomer was still unfaithful.

Chapter two goes on to describe the punishment that Israel (who Gomer represents) received because of her unfaithfulness. Rightly deserved punishment. But then, in verse fourteen, the mood changes. We tend to read the Bible by section. We assume that there has always been a break where there is a subtitle. But when you read this straight through, it says...

"And I will punish her for the feast days of the Baals
   when she burned offerings to them
and adorned herself with her ring and jewelry,
   and went after her lovers
   and forgot me, declares the LORD.
Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
   and bring her into the wilderness,
   and speak tenderly to her."

THEREFORE. What?! "Therefore" would make it seem as if she deserves it. No stipulations. No conditions. Israel completely deserted Yahweh. She left the great I Am in the dust to pursue other things - pursue other lovers. And yet God speaks tenderly to her? Brings her back to the wilderness - to the passion that existed when their love was still new. 

"And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness."

The bride price. The things that God will give Israel - the attributes that only come from Him. The things that she doesn't merit in any way. God then tells Hosea to do the same for his wife.

Recently, I've been seeing more and more what a horrible, unloving, judgmental, hurtful person I am. I've abandoned God for the things that I think satisfy - academic knowledge, helping someone, finding my place on my own. None of these things are bad, but when I pursue them without Yahweh, how the heck do I think they are going to succeed? I forget the reason behind my life. I neglect the One who brought me this far. I put it all on my shoulders. And yet...yet, God wants me. To allure me. Bring me into the wilderness. Speak tenderly to me. Help me return to my first love (Revelation 2:4). How freaking unworthy am I?! And not just of receiving God's love, but also to be used to bring His love to others. Blows my mind.  



Wedding Dress by Derek Webb

If you could love me as a wife
and for my wedding gift, your life
Should that be all I'd ever need
or is there more I'm looking for

and should I read between the lines
and look for blessings in disguise
To make me handsome, rich, and wise
Is that really what you want

I am a whore I do confess
But I put you on just like a wedding dress
and I run down the aisle
and I run down the aisle
I'm a prodigal with no way home
but I put you on just like a ring of gold
and I run down the aisle to you

So could you love this bastard child
Though I don't trust you to provide
With one hand in a pot of gold
and with the other in your side

I am so easily satisfied
by the call of lovers so less wild
That I would take a little cash
Over your very flesh and blood

Because money cannot buy
a husband's jealous eye
When you have knowingly deceived his wife